Facility Performance and Cost Savings

Organization(s)

Narragansett Bay Commission

Project Description

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) continues to take a very proactive approach to ensure Strategic Goals Project (SGP) participation of metal finishers in Rhode Island and to track environmental performance. The NBC has developed a user-friendly, visual presentation of SGP data, which is used to compile and evaluate the environmental performance and cost savings of many metal finishing firms in the NBC district. The presentation uses an Excel spreadsheet program to compile the data in a very orderly way and allows the environmental performance trends to be viewed in a user-friendly format. Tracking environmental performance has many benefits such as:

-Providing feedback that draws attention to successful pollution prevention (P2) approaches, which can lend a clear focus to others whose performance is lackluster;

-Providing key information to incorporate into the business plan of any firm interested in continuous improvement or in implementing an environmental management system;

-Demonstrating that progress can lead to annual cost savings; this process is in the Publicly Owned Treatment Work's (POTW) interest since it helps to ensure that the rate payer remains economically competitive and able to properly staff wastewater treatment systems and make timely payments of sewer user fees; and,

-Focusing on real environmental protection and stresses positive results and rewards, which can improve relationships with regulators.

perspective, even if the data is still available, why should a firm have to collect and submit the information all over again? Like NBC, most POTWs keep such records or have staff that has access to the information. NBC views tracking environmental performance as an invaluable way to promote P2 efforts and to get the most out of an environmental management system. For metal finishers, tracking environmental performance that is normalized to production makes sense. Such an approach can show where opportunities exist and then it may be up to NBC's pollution prevention staff to promote the appropriate technical assistance and "sell" the idea of continuous improvement, while the dialogue is opened. For more information contact: Barry Wenskowicz, NBC, (401) 461-8848 x329, bwenskowicz@narrabay.com.